System... I've joined the privileged ranks now! I'm one of Mondstadt's big shots...
*...*
After leaving the Knights of Favonius with the largely useless title of "Honorary Knight," the angel stretched and turned to look at Lumine, who still seemed lost in thought.
They hadn't gone far before Gabrielina pulled Lumine down onto a bench.
"Lumine, was there something else you didn't tell Acting Grand Master Jean?"
"...Oh!" Paimon suddenly cried out.
"That girl in white stockings and a green hat?"
After countless bouts of silence, Gabrielina had gradually given up on correcting other people.
A girl it is, then. That's... fine too.
"I don't think he's a bad person," Lumine said, looking slightly distracted. "And... he seems to be able to communicate directly with Dvalin."
"I think the two of us can investigate this ourselves..."
For some reason, Gabrielina kept feeling that Lumine's eyes sparkled whenever she looked at her.
It made her awfully hard to refuse.
"Hey," Paimon said, peering across the street as though she had suddenly noticed something. "Look at that person... she..."
"She's so green too!"
"She's that girl in the green hat and white stockings!"
Gabrielina: No... he really isn't, hey!
Lumine and Paimon swiftly exchanged a glance, grabbed Gabrielina by the wrist, and rushed off without giving her a chance to object.
The two followed the boy toward the Goth Grand Hotel. He had been just ahead of them, but now that green figure was nowhere to be found.
Lumine pressed her fingers to the space between her brows, then snapped her eyes open. None of the surrounding elements could escape her sight. A trail of green Anemo footprints stood out clearly in her vision.
The girl knitted her brows, her expression growing more serious.
Even someone with an Anemo Vision shouldn't leave footprints like these, right? Could he... be a Slime that gained human form!?
"Behind us."
"Behind us? When did that guy get behind us?" Paimon asked in shock.
They followed the trail toward the nearby statue. Even from a distance, they could see a crowd packed several rows deep in the plaza, apparently watching something.
"So many people..."
Gabrielina turned around and clasped Lumine's fingers. Before Lumine could cry out, wings unfurled behind Gabrielina, and space twisted into a vortex amid a swirl of rainbow halos. Paimon clung to Lumine's neck in fright, and the three vanished like dewdrops drawn into a rainbow.
The next second, they stood on the stone paving of Cathedral Plaza, a breeze brushing their hair to the sound of church bells.
Lumine stumbled half a step, scooped up the dizzy Paimon, and stared in shock at their still-clasped hands. "What was...?"
"Lumine, look over there."
Gabrielina casually let go, though her fingertips secretly rubbed twice over the spot on her palm where a trace of warmth still lingered.
Nearby, clear, melodious notes drifted over on the wind. The green-clad bard plucked his strings and slowly began telling his story.
Bards were something of a Mondstadt specialty. They could be found along streets and alleyways, in taverns and restaurants alike.
The people listening around him seemed to understand only bits and pieces of his song, but Gabrielina, Lumine, and Paimon all understood the story.
He was singing a poem about Stormterror-Dvalin.
When the story ended, everyone broke into cheers. Had Lumine not been beside her, Gabrielina would have wanted to show her support for Venti in rather more fervent ways.
Lord Anemo Archon, I'm your fan!
"Since everyone enjoyed that so much..." Venti smiled and took off his green hat.
"Uh... I've suddenly got a bad feeling about this..."
"Hm? Are you feeling unwell, Gabrielina?" Lumine glanced at the angel beside her in confusion.
The girl shook her head. Then, under Lumine and Paimon's astonished gazes, Venti began making his way around the crowd with his hat in hand.
"If you've got Mora, spare some Mora! If you haven't, your presence is support enough. Thank you, everyone!"
"Oh! Beautiful lady... may the Anemo Archon bless you!"
"..."
"..."
He really did seem short on money. Why else would he make that face?
Watching Venti's eyes light up at the gold coins, Gabrielina suddenly felt that he wasn't acting.
With a god like this, like... like this... what will become of our Mondstadt... (choking up) ...in the end? (sobbing uncontrollably)
"Hey, you two travelers, would you like to hear another song?" Venti took a few steps toward them, pretending to study them carefully.
"You two... ah, you're the ones who scared Dvalin away back then!"
Venti suddenly turned his gaze toward the angel, his expression taking on a knowing look.
Lumine would surely have been at a loss. Gabrielina, however, glared right back without hesitation and even rolled her eyes.
"Dvalin? Doesn't everyone usually call him Stormterror?" Paimon asked curiously. "Why do you call him that? Do you know each other well?"
"Ehe~ What do you think?"
"Hey, Gabrielina, Lumine, this guy's pretty weird..." Paimon turned her head and gossiped about him right in front of him, at a volume she thought Venti couldn't hear.
"Yeah, pretty weird," Gabrielina replied outright.
"Hey, hey! You can't say that about me!" Venti gave the girl a plaintive look, then cleared his throat.
"Visitors from afar, welcome to Mondstadt. Before you stands the bard Venti, three-time reigning champion of Mondstadt's Most Beloved Bard!"
Venti stood before them with his hands on his hips, looking quite proud of himself.
"Hello, my name is Lumine. This is Gabrielina, and this is Paimon," Lumine replied earnestly.
"So, what did you need me for?"
"Since you've recognized us, we don't need to explain much, do we? Obviously, it's about Stormterror!"
At the mention of Stormterror, Venti looked noticeably displeased. He lifted his head with a drawn-out "Hmm~" and launched straight into his act.
"Hey, don't suddenly pretend you've forgotten! Lumine, show him that thing."
At Paimon's words, Lumine nodded and took the crystal from earlier out of her pocket. The moment she pulled it out, however, she realized something was wrong.
The ominous crystal that had once glowed blood-red had turned a pure sky blue.
"This is..." Venti instinctively leaned closer, his expression turning to shock.
"That's strange. I-I don't know what happened either. It was still full of impurities the last time I looked."
The wings on Gabrielina's back and the two little tufts of feathers by her ears trembled gently. Pure Anemo swirled around her, feeling wonderfully comfortable.
"These are... the tears Dvalin shed in his suffering..."
Before you continue